Experimental Flashover Studies on Plastics at UNLV

The Nevada Shocker powered by nine 0.28 muF capacitors in a Marx Bank configuration yielding a maximum standup voltage and energy of 540 kV and 4.54 kJ respectively drives a 14.2 nF (in charging mode) Blumlein. The Blumlein with self-breaking water switch generates a 46 ns (theory) to 50 ns (experimental) pulse guided by a 7 Omega discharge transmission line to a parallel plate diode in a 10^-6 Torr vacuum environment. Four novel UNLV dots equally spaced on a 1.25" radius circle embedded about 1 mm below the anode electrode surface interrogates the power flow between the diode plates. The novel dot allows for both H and D fields at the surface of the electrode to be measured at a single point. Preliminary discussions of breakdown will be presented based on a number of open and short-circuited shots and a number of single shot 1" and 2" long, 1" diameter, Rexolite samples between the electrodes. A null shot will also be presented for comparison.